The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1887-01-11

Alabama sent these three, Benjamin F.
Turner, Jcre Harrison, and James II.
Rapier. Mississippi elected John R.
Lynch. Josiah Il. Walls came from
Florida, James +. O'Hara has had three
terms from North Carolina and jeff
Long. Of Macon, is Gcoreia's solitary
contribution Of African blood to Congress
The forty-third Congress had the
heaviest colorcd representation ever
known. Rcvels, Of Mississippi, was in
the Senate, ald in the House there were
the following six members: Walls, of
Florida; Rapicr, s.of Alabama; Elliott,
Cain, Rainey and Ransier. Of Sonth Car
olina. 1t was in that Congress that Ell
liott made his famous speech in support
Of the civil rights bill. 1t was one ef
the most eloquent efforts Of the season
and created decidedly greater sensation
than any other speech Of the year, be-
cause it came from colored man. Eli
OFT had graduated at Harvard and Was
really an accomplished rnan, besides be-
ing one Of rare natural abilities. He was
not Of pure blood, but the African strain
largely predominated. Elliott practiced
law successfully for several years after
leaving Congress, mud died in South
Carolina.
Elliott and Lynch were the two most
intellectual negroes Of all that ever held
seats in Congress. Lynch was almost
as good speaker as Elliott, and was his
superior in many respects. He had a
better address, was more liberal in his
views, and had more friendships among
his white colleagues than any colored
man could ever claim in Congress. Sec
rotary Lamar always thought highly Of
him, and when Lynch was in the House
and Lamar in the Senate they consulted
about Legislation directly affecting Mis-
sissippi as often as any two members
from that State. Lynch was the tenn
po-ary chairman of the last national
repubIicul convention, defeating Powell
Clayton, Of Arkansas, for that office. He
is now farming in Mississippi. and has
forsworn politics.
The toughest negro Of all that have
been in Congress was Turner, of Ala
bama. He had been a hostlcr all his
life and had become the proprietor Of q
peripatetic breeding stable. His
81, 81, -.
district and his natural boldncss push
ing him ahead Of the smarter negro
politicians, secured kim q seat in Con-
gress. He was heavy set, rough fel-
low who was quccrly out OF place while
here, and since his retirement has sunk
into obscurity. Rainey, Of South Caro-
lima, a sensible man, after leaving Cen.
greEs, entered the wood and coal bust
ness in Washington, and is doing we'll
at it.
1t may be said Of all the negroes who
have yet been sent to Congress that they
have d"portcd themselves while in
public life remarkably well. Not one OF
:hem was ever mixed up in congress
sional scandal, though they were thick
est here when the lobby was boldest and
Congress most corrupt. They have
uniformly been decent in their conduct,
and regular in their attention to public
duty. Only one or two of them have
been Of that class Of professional negroes
Of which Fred Douglass IL the type and
several Of them have been among the
most advanced leaders Of their race in
the direction of intelligent industry and
good citizenship.
Considering their circumstances, the
natural prejudice against them, and their
opportunities to fit themselves for pub
lie life, they have done remarkably we'll
and have merrited the respect and kind
regard which they have generally re-
ceivcd ut the hands Of their white COL
leagues in Congress- Consti.
tuition.